Commack football's Jordan Hamilton sets tone in quarterfinal win over Lindenhurst
Jordan Hamilton of Commack reacts after scoring his team's first touchdown of the game at the start of the second quarter during a Suffolk Division I football quarterfinal against host Lindenhurst on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. Credit: Dawn McCormick
A stunning loss at home in the regular-season finale was all the Commack football team needed for motivation.
The Cougars were upended by Lindenhurst in an overtime thriller when the Bulldogs converted a two-point conversion pass for a one-point win last week.
The loss forced Commack on the road for the first round of the Suffolk Division II playoffs. The Bulldogs big win earned them the four seed and a home game, against No. 5 Commack.
The rematch was nothing like the first meeting. This time, Commack was superior in every facet of the game. The Cougars controlled the play clock, rushed for 213 yards and played stifling defense in an impressive 33-7 win over Lindenhurst Saturday in the quarterfinals.
Commack (7-2) will travel to top-seeded Half Hollow Hills East (9-0) Saturday at noon.
“We studied film and made some adjustments,” Commack safety Ryan Ostling said. “Guys were flying to the ball. We had some great blitz packages. And our coaches gave a few new guys an opportunity to play and they came through.”
Jordan Hamilton of Commack pulls in the pass in front of Gabe Proulx of Lindenhurst at the start of the second quarter during a Suffolk Division I football quarterfinal on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026 in Lindenhurst. Credit: Dawn McCormick
Commack’s Jordan Hamilton opened the scoring with an athletic play. The wind played havoc with Lincoln Riggs' pass deep down the middle of the field, causing the ball to be severely underthrown and floated into the secondary. Hamilton came back to the ball and jumped over the defensive back to make the catch. He somehow kept his balance and broke free for a 40-yard TD. Jackson Krauthamer added the extra-point kick for the 7-0 lead.
“Hamilton turned a jump ball into a TD and that set the tone,” Commack coach Matt Cardinale said. “Our offense came to play in a real good bounce-back win. We were a pre-season 12 seed, won six games in a row, lost two heartbreakers and rebounded with a win today after a great week of practice and film work.”
Lindenhurst (4-5) came into the game on a four-game win streak after losing its first four games.
Bulldogs quarterback Mikey Russo took his team on a seven-play, 83-yard TD drive to tie the score with 7:27 left in the half.. He found Cole Petzold on a go route for a 44-yard TD pass. Ryan Andreone added the kick to make it 7-7.
“I’m proud of my team,” Lindenhurst coach Mark Frole said. “We turned it around midseason and had some big wins. We made some mistakes today and never got going.”
Commack went on a nine-play, 79-yard TD march that ended with Corey Jacobs' 11-yard run and a 13-7 advantage with 2:37 left in the half.
“Our offense dominated the time of possession and that kept the defense fresh,” Commack linebacker Mason Ruocco said. “We put in some news schemes this week and shut them down.”
Lindenhurst had five series that went three-and-out against a swarming Commack defense.
The Cougars continued to build the lead in the third quarter on field goals of 37 and 30 yards by Krauthamer. It was 19-7 with 7:24 left in the third quarter.
“Oh, he’s a weapon for sure,” Cardinale said. “And our defense was excellent – limiting the deep pass. We had one busted coverage.”
In a fitting touch, Commack added a fourth quarter 6-yard TD on a fourth down halfback option pass from halfback Thomas Grabow to Riggs that looked eerily like the pass play that sent them on the road this week.
“It worked out fine,” Cardinale said.
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
